Washing-machine assembly



Oct. 9, 1928.. 1,686,538

' J. TEDELL WASHING MACHINE ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 22, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet2 g? R o o I i Q r J0 fl Q9 a 19 1.5 I J Q Z ndarvfaf Oct. 9, 1928.1,686,538 J. TEDELL WASHING MACHINE ASSI QMBLY Filed J n- 22, 1925 :sSheets-Sheet Patented Got. 9, 192% pairs srarss ag ear, rare.

J GEN TEDELL 0F SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN OB TO MONTGOMERY WARD. &(30., ENG, OF CHICAGO, IIiLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE ASSEMBLY.

Application filed January 22, 1925. Serial No. 3,996.

' This invention has to do with washing machines of the typegenerallyemployed for domestic use in the cleansing of clothes, althoughthe invention has capabilities of adaptation in other machines.

Its primary object is the provision of a novel form of machine assemblywherein the general machine structure is properly balanced to insureefficient operation of the mechanism, and also by which the operativeparts most likely to cause injury to the operator are effectuallyconcealed from contact by the operator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine assemblyin which the frame proper is of such character and construct-ion as tobe readily manufactured and its parts brought together with ease, andwhich are so related to the tub or container for the articles to becleansed as to sustain the weight of the tub or container and itscontents in the most effective manner.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of theimprovements is-better understood, the invention consistingsubstantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

One practicalembodiment of the invention is made the basis of thepresent disclosure. It delineates what is regarded at this time as apreferred adaptation of the invention, but the same is susceptible tochange, modification and variation, wherefore, the present disclosure isto be considered from the illuse trative standpoint, rather thanimposing restriction on the-invention.

In the drawings- I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machineassembly embodying the present inv vention, parts being slightly brokenaway for clearness of illustration.

Fig. Qis a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the holder for thetub.

Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of one of the varms of the holder and theassociated tub clamp.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 designates avertically disposed casing or' housing wherein is enclosed the gearingand clutch mechanism of the machine. This casing serves also as asupport for a tub 11 designed to receive the articles to be cleansed,which tubhas a detachable cover 12 for closing its upper open end, andthe handles 13 by which it may be readily carried when detached from themachine structure. The tub 11 is mounted for tiltable movement on thecasing 10, as by a suitably operative connection 14 between said tub andthe gearing within the casing 10, the tub being carried by a holder 15to which the operative connection 14 is directly connected.

The mechanism for operating the tub 11 is not claimed herein, the samebeing the subject of an application filed by Leland G. Knapp and myselfconcurrently herewith, Serial No. 4,025, and to which reference may behad for a more complete understanding of that mechanism.

Extending outwardly from the gear casing 10 is a hollow horizontal arm16, said arm being tapering in form, the extremity thereof beingenlarged to provide a gear chamber 17. This chamber has an inclined side18, which is open for access to the interior of the chamber, and saidopen side has a closure plate 19 fitted thereover and suitably fastened,as by bolts 20, to the chamber 17. Connected to the closure plate 19 isa de pending supporting leg 21 for sustaining the weight of theport-ions of the machine structure immediately thereabove. This leg 21isof flanged construction to reinforce the same and impart rigiditythereto, it being formed preferably as a casting, and its lower end hasassociated therewith oppositely disposed supporting feet 22.

Bolted or otherwise suitably fastened to the lower end of the supportinglink 21 is a pair of divergent tie rods 23 the opposite ends of whichare suitably connected to a wheel supporting bar 24 which is arrangedacross the ends of the tie bars 23. The extremities of the wheelsupporting bar 24 are bent downwardly to form perforated ears 25 whichreceive the axles 26 of supporting wheels 27, whereby the machine may beeasily moved over the floor or other surface on which it is placed.Located over the wheel supporting bar 24 is an .inverted substantiallyll-shaped bracing strut 28. The extremities of this strut arebentdownwardly to provide perforated cars 29, said cars being arrangedin spaced relation to he. cars 25 and perforated for receiving the Eli)' respect to that casing.

axles 26 of the wheels 27. The ears 25 and 29, therefore, afford meansfor attachment of the wheels 27 to the machine frame.

Extending upwardly from the extremities of the bracing strut 28 is apair of inclined brace bars 30. The lower ends of these bars aresuitably fastened, as by bolts 31, to the bracing strut 28 at the endsof the latter, and said fastenings 31 serve to connect the bars 30, thestrut 28 and the wheel supporting bar 34, thus affording rigidconnection between these elements, and tying the same into the framestructure. The upper ends of the brace bars 30 are bolted, as at 32, orotherwise suitably connected, to the gear casing 10, and in this mannerserve to brace the lower portion of the frame with At the side of thegear casing 10 which is opposite to the side from which the arm 16projects is a horizontally extending supporting plate 33 having at itslower'face a transversely extending channel 34 into which the head ofthe bracing strut 28 is fitted. This supporting plate 33 is integralwith the casing 10, and is braced with respect thereto by a vertically'disposedstrengthening Web 35. Arranged beneath the supporting plate 33,and suitably fastened thereto, as by bolts 36, is an electric motor 37of any approved type. The attaching feet 38 of said motor span thechannel 34 of the plate 33, 'and thereby hold the head of the bracingstrut 28 within said channel and anchored with respect to the supportingplate.

At the lower end'of the gear casing 10, which tapers downwardly, is ashaft con-- nection 39, said shaft being aligned with the armature shaft40 of the motor 37 A slip joint connection 41 of any suitable form, isinterposed between the shafts 39 and 40, said joint serving to preventdamage to the motor and to the gearing in the event that excessiveresistance arises to the action of the motor in the operation of themachine.

Extending vertically from the gear chamber 17 is a supporting column 42the lower end of which is stepped in a conical bearing 43 suitablyfastened, as bybolts or screws 44, to said chamber 17 A swinging wringer45 of any appropriate construction is arranged at the upper end of thecolumn 42 and is movable about said column by means of a rotatablesupporting head 46 which surrounds the upper end of the column 42. Thusthe wringer 45 may be swung at various angles to the tub 11 in the usualmanner characteristic of the present day construction of swingingwringers. A locking device 47 is included in the construction of theswinging wringerfor holding the latter at the desired positionsofadjustment when positioned therein. The rolls of the wringer 45 .arecontrolled in their movement by means of any usual or customary form ofreversing clutch mechanism housed within the supporting head 46 andcontrolled by a lever mechanism 48, and when the latter is properlyactuated, rotation of the rolls 'of the wringer, in the desireddirection of movement, is effected.

The swinging wringer 45, the locking device 47, the rgversing mechanismwithin the head 46, and the controlling lever mechanism 48 being of anyusual and approved construction, it is unnecessary to illustrate thedetails thereof herein.

For controlling operation of the gearing within the casing 10 a handlever 49 is employed. This is pivotally mounted on the gear chamber 17,a connecting rod 50 extending therefrom to a crank arm 51, which, inturn, has operative relation with the gearing disposed within saidcasing 10. By the manipulation of the hand lever 49, and its operativerelation with the gearing at the inside of said casing 10, the movementof the tub 1], is controlled. Y

The holder 15 is in the form df a spider frame, including a series ofradially projecting arms 52 which *extend outwardly from a hub member53. At the outer extremity-of one of said arms 52 is a sliding clampmember 54 having an upwardly. extending engaging hook 55, said hookbeing adapted to' embrace the peripheral edge portion of the bottom ofthe tub 11, its body portion being received between the end of the arm52 and a bearing block 56 suitably held in the extremity of the arm 52.At the inner end of the clamp member 54 is located a downwardlyextending contact lug 57 against which impinges theinner end of afastening screw 58 which is 'threadably engaged with the bearing block56.

The extremities of the other arms 52 are provided with fixed engaginghooks 59, said hooks also being designed to embrace the peripheralportions of the tub 11. Therefore, when such engagement of the hooks 59is efl'ected with the edge portions of the tub 11, and the screw 58'isproperly manipu lated so that by its impingement against the lug 57 theclamp member 54 is moved inwardly, the engaging hook of that member islocked into engagement with the peripheral edge ortion of the tub 11,and the latter effectual y held upon the support 15.

It will be apparent that the herein described machine assembly providesan effectual organization of the tub or container and the framestructure which insures proper distribution of strain, and likewisebalances themachine so as to prevent over- 1 turning or tilting of themachine in its en tirety. It will be understood that the wringer 45 isactuated from the motor 37 through suitable gearing connections betweenthe wringer and the gearing within 1 the casing 10, such gearingconnections being concealed within the arm 16 and the column 42. Withsuch concealment of that gearing, as well as the gear connectionsbetween the motor and the operative connec tion 14, liability to injuryof the operator, by contact witli 'tl1e'geai'i11g, is precluded. Theonly moving parts of he machine which are exposed are the tiltable tub11 and the support 15.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine. the combination with a vertically-disposedtub-supporting frame member, of an arm'extending laterally from saidtub-supporting frame memher, a. supporting column for wringer mechanismextending upwardly from said arm, a supporting leg for sustaining theweight of said supporting column, an outwardly extending motorsupporting plate carried by the tub-supporting frame member at the sidethereof opposite to the laterally extend ing arm, and means for tyingsaid supporting leg to said tub-supporting frame mem- 2. In a washingmachine, the combination with a vertically-disposed tub-supporting framemember, of a horizontal arm extend ing laterally from one side of saidtub-supporting frame member, a vertically disposed supporting column forwringer mechanism porting frame member, a supporting col-' sustained bysaid horizontal arm, a supporting leg connected to said horizontalarmand positioned below the supporting column for sustaining the weightof the latter, an outwardly extending supporting plateLQarried by thetub-supporting frame member 'at'Pthe side thereof opposite to thelaterally extend: ing arm, and means for tying said supporting leg tosaid tub-supporting 'frame member.

8. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub-supporting. framemember, an arm extending laterally from said tub-sup porting framemember, a supporting column for wringer mechanism extending upwardlyfrom said arm, a supporting leg connected to said arm for sustaining thelatter and said supporting column, tie bars connected to said supportingleg, a wheel frame connected to said tie bars, and bracing connectionsbetween said wheel frame and the tub.-

supporting frame member.

" 4. In a washin g'machine, the combination with a tub-supporting framemember, an arm extendinglaterally from said tub-supumn for wringermechanism extending upwardly from said arm, a supporting leg connectedto said arm for sustaining the latter and said supporting column, tiebars connected to said supporting leg, a wheel frame connected to saidtie bars, a motor supporting plate carried by said tub-supporting framemember, a bracing strut connected to said motor supporting plate and thewheel frame, and bracing connectionsbetween said i wheel frame and thetub-supporting frame member. I I

5. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub-supporting framemember, an -arm extending horizontally frem' one side offsaidtub-supporting frame member, a vertically disposed supporting column forwringer mechanism sustained by said arm, a supporting leg connected tosaid arm for-sustaining the latter and said supporting" column, tie barsconnected to said supporting leg a wheel frame connected to said tiebars, a mowringer mechanismsustained by said arm,

a supporting leg connected to said arm for sustaining the latter andsaid supporting column, a pair of tie bars connected to'said supportingleg and arranged in divergent relation thereto, a wheel frame connectedacross the ends of said divergenttie bars, a motor supporting platecarried by said tubsupporting frame member at'the side there 7 ofopposite to the horizontally extending arm, a V-shaped bracing strutconnected to said motor supporting frame and having its ends connectedto the wheel frame, and bracing connections between said wheel frame andthe tub-supporting frame member.

7. In a washing machine, the combination with a, tub-supporting framemember, comprising an arm extending horizontally from one side of saidtub-supporting frame n1em-' her, a vertically disposed supporting columnfor wringer mechanism sustained by said.

arm, a supporting leg connected to said arm forsustaining the latter andsaid supporting column, a pair of horizontal tie rods connected to said'supporting leg and arranged in divergent relation thereto.-a wheel frameconnected across the ends of said divergent tie bars, a motor supportingplate carried by said tub-supporting framev member at the side thereofopposite to the horizontally extending armfa V-shaped bracing strutconnected to said motor supporting frame and having .its ends connectedto the Wheel frame, and brace bars. connected to said bracing strut andalso to the tub-supportingv frame member.

8. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub-supporting framemember, com-, i

tor supporting plate carried by said tub-sup porting frame member at,the side thereof one side of said tub-supporting frame member, avertically-disposed supporting column for Wringer mechanism sustained bysaid arm, a supporting leg connected to said arm for sustaining-thelatter and said supporting column, a pair of tie bars connected to saidsupporting leg andarranged in horizontal divergent relation thereto, aWheel frame connected across the ends of said divergent tie bars, amotor supporting plate carrifid by said tub-supporting frame member at t'e side thereof opposite to the horizontally extending arm, said motorsupporting plate having a transversely extending channel, asubstantially V-shaped bracing strut having its head seated in thechannel of said motor supporting plate and also having its endsconnected to the Wheel frame, a motor suspended from said supportingplate and spanning the head of said V-shaped bracing strut to maintainthe latter in said channel, and

9. In a Washing machine, a triangular metallic frame structure, avertically disposed support column at one point of the frame structure,roller means adjacent re maining points of the triangular frame, a a tubsupporting casing having a laterally extending arm supported by'saidcolumn, a channeled plate member associated with said casingproviding amotor support, and an inverted V-shaped bracing strut having its baseengaging said channeled plate and its ends engaging portions of theframe structure, and a ivringer supporting casing vertically supportedat the end of the laterally extending arm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

JOHN TEDELL. 1

